Fogg Art Museum Report.

NO WRITER ATTRIBUTED
January 23, 1903

The annual report of the Fogg Art Museum, issued by the Director, Professor Charles H. Moore, shows that there have been a number of important accessions to the Museum, during the past year. From Mr. E. W. Forbes '95 the Museum has received as an indefinite loan a view of the Simplon in water color by J. M. W. Turner, a fine and characteristic example of his mature art. By hanging with it a small early drawing (belonging to the Department of Fine Arts), and also an excellent example of his middle period (loaned by Mr. Francis Bullard '86 of Boston), an instructive synoptical illustration of the development of Turner's genius is given. These drawings, together with the prints of the Liber Studiorum in the Gray Collection, and the larger works in oil color lately acquired by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, have afforded an opportunity to study at first hand the artistic powers of this great modern master, such as has not before existed in this country. Also from Mr. Forbes, the Museum has received a large panel in tempera, representing St. Jerome and two other figures, by Fra Filippo Lippi, and a panel of the Madonna and Child, bearing the signature of John Bellini, both of which are good examples of the schools to which they respectively belong, and both are in excellent condition. A Grecian marble statue of Narcissus, the gift of the same donor, is a worthy companion to the beautiful Meleager and Aprodite before acquired. The figure, like most others of Greek antiquity that have lately been brought to light, is badly injured by the loss of important parts. The nose, both legs below the knees, the right arm below the shoulder, and the left arm above the elbow are gone; but the fragment which remains is superb. The pose is graceful, the anatomical development moderate, and the modelling large and fine in the highest degree.

A collection of bronzes, vases, and ornaments of Ancient Greek and Egyptian art, given as an indefinite loan by Mr. James Loeb '88, is of equally high character. Obtainable Greek bronzes are very rare and costly, and this series will develop the working Museum in a new direction, while the vases of this collection are an important addition to former acquisitions in this class of objects. Among other important acquisitions are an ancient glass bottle, and a terra-cotta figure from Professor C. E. Norton.

The more important additions to the Gray Collection are ten prints of Turner's Liber Studiorum in the etched state and two plates in the same series in the mezzotint state. 200 phototype reproductions of drawings by Rembrandt have been procured, but the resources of the Museum have been so small that practically no other additions to the collection of photographs have been made. To the Randall Collection has been added a metal engraving by Vitale, a gift from Mrs. F. D. Bergen. In making additions to the print collections the Museum endeavors primarily to fill the most important gaps in the class of original works, that is, engravings by artists executing their own designs on wood and metal--chiefly early German and Italian engravers, and modern masters like Turner. The etchings of the Liber Studiorum are unique in character, and of great value. It is therefore desirable that all should be procured if possible. To the library a number of additions have also been made.

In conclusion, Professor Moore says: "The need for a suitable gallery where our paintings can be properly seen increases with the growth of our collection. This collection already includes examples of the early Italian schools of real importance such as do not as yet exist elsewhere in the country, and it is a deplorable fact that these works cannot now be seen in any proper sense."